Slug-trimming mechanism



Jan; 3, 192K 8. SMITH SLUG TRIMMING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 27. 1926 gm, BY

W TTOR EYS Patented Jan. 3, 1928.

SAMUEL SMITH, 0F

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MERGENTHALER LINOTYPB COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SLUG-TRIMMING MECHANISM.

Application filed January 27, 1926. Serial No. 84,059.

My invention relates to typographical casting machines, such as linotype machines of the general organization represented in U! S. Letters Patent No. 436,532, to O. Mergenthaler, wherein type bars or slugs are cast in a mold and then ejected therefrom between twotrimming knives, which insure the parallelism of their opposite side faces and the exact thickness required. One of these knives is adjustably mounted in order that the distance between the two may be varied at will to accommodateslugs of different thicknesses. More particularly, it relates to a slug trimming mechanism of the type shown and described in the U. S. patent to D. S. Kennedy, No. 1,002,281, wherein'the adjustments of the knife are effected against spring tension by meansofa rotary sector plate operated by a hand lever and having a series of transverse, concentrically arranged screw studs, which project different distances from the inner side face thereof and which thus determine the extent of the adjustment desired. In practice, it has been found that after certain adjustments of the sector plate, its hand lever projects so far forwardlyof the machine as to stand in the operators way and to interfere with his free manipulation of the parts. The present invention obviates this difliculty by dispens ing with the hand lever altogether, and, moreover, provides means whereby the sector plate may be relieved of spring pressure during its rotary ad ustment to avoid excessive wear on the parts.

In the accompanying drawings, 1' have shown my invention merely in preferred form and by way of example, but obviously many changes andvariations may be made therein and in its mode of operation, which will still be comprised within its spirit. Generally speaking, I desire itto be understood that I do not wish to limit myself to any specific form or embodiment, except in so far as such limitations arespecified in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. '1 is a perspective view of a knife block, equipped with the present improve ments; and

' Fig. 2 is a central horizontal sect-ion thereof.

As best shown in Fig. 2, the adjustable knife A is fastened by screws a to a slide B and arranged opposite to and parallel with 5 the fixed knife A. For manufacturing reasons, the slide B is made in two sections B, B and mounted to move horizontally in a supporting frame C bolted rigidly to the main frame of the machine. In its front face, the section B is formed with a pair of superposed horizontal grooves or recesses B adapted to accommodate spiral springs B, which bear against-integral projections c on the fixed frame C and urge the slide 0011- stantly endwise toward the right to move the knife A away from the opposing knife A. A rotary sector plate or gauge mem her I) employed to sustain-the knife A. in its different adjusted positions, the said 7 member being provided with a series of concentrically disposed screw studs D, which project: different distances from the inner facethereofand are arranged to selectively engage a hardened stud B attached to the adjacent end of the slide B. As a result, the knife A is caused to stand in one position or another, according to the particular screw stud in action. The parts so far described, their construction and mode of operation, except as will be hereinafter pointed out, are

or may be substantially the same as those presented in the above-mentioned Kennedy patent.

According to the present invention, it is 55 proposed to relieve the sector plate D of the pressure exerted by the springs B, so that it may be freely rotated in making adjustmenls. To this end, the knife slide member B is provided with a pin 13, which projects forwardly through a slot C in the frame C and terminates alongside the rear end of a hand lever E. the latter being pivotally mounted on the side of a rigid arm E located to one side of the sector plate D and out of the way of the operator. with this arrangement, the operation of the lever E, which in the present instance is effected by pressing it toward "the arm E, forces the slide B toward the left against the tension of the springs B to an extent suiiicient to locate the stud B clear of all the studs D of the sector plate when the latter is rotated and set in another position. After resetting the sector plate, the hand lever E is released to allow the springs to restore the slide B to the right and bring the stud B into engagement with the newly selected stud D of the sector plate. Excessive friction between the stud and the various studs D, and the wear that would take place as a result, particularly if :the studs D were unhardened, is in this way obviated.

It is important that the sector plate be locked securely in its difierent. adjusted positions, and hence there is employed a fiat spring plate F, which is clamped to the frame C and provided with an actuating handle F The finger F (see Fig. 2) is supported in a recess C formed in the front arcuate face of the frame C and projects slightly beyond to engage notches D disposed around the inner, faceof the sector plate D. These notches are arranged d1- ametrically opposite to their respective screw studs D, so'that each notch will always register with the latch finger F when the corresponding stud D is brought into operative relation to the stud B on the knife slide B. It will also be noted that the handle F? is arranged adjacent the arm E and on the side opposite the hand lever E, so that when the operator grasps the latter to retract the knife slide 13, in the manner before stated, the latch F will be disengaged from the active notch D by the same operation. Moreover, the control of the locking device is such that under normal conditions, the knife A cannot be adjusted without first relievingthe sector plate ofthe pressure exerted by the springs 13*.

In order to aid the operator in adjusting the knife to produce slugs of different thick nesses and to indicate the adjustments as they are effected, a pointer F is provided, which, in the present instance, is formed on a forward extension of the spring plate F and arranged flush with the peripheral edge of the rotary sector plate D, the latter being provided (as shown in Fig. 1) with appropriate marks or graduations D.

To adjust the knife, according to the foregoing arrangement, the operator with one hand grasps thelever E and handle F and presses them against the rigid arm E. By this operation, the sector plate D is unlocked from the frame C and freed of the pressure exerted by the springs B, so that the operator with his other hand may readily turn the sector plate about its fulcrum pin 'D until the mark designating the thickness of the slug desired registers with the pointer F The two handles E and F are then released to permit the stud B to bank against the selected opposing stud, D and the latch finger F to engage the corresponding notch D While the sector plate might be rotated directly by hand, owing to the absence of any pressure or strain thereon, it is preferably provided with a turning knob D screwed or otherwise fastened thereto.

tion only by way of example and as applied to a specific style of slug trimming mechanism, but obviously modifications. other than the onedesc-ribed will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing .fromthe spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, its construction and mode of operation, what I- claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the Unitedstates is as follows:

1. In a slug trimming mechanism, the combination of a knife-slide, adjusting means therefor, a spring for maintaining the knife slide in its adjusted positions, meansfor suppressing the spring, and separate locking means arranged to prevent operation of the knife slide adjusting means-before the spring is suppressed. 1

2. In a slug trimming mechanism, thecombination ofaknife slide, an adjustable auger member, means forlockingthe latter. in its adjusted positions, a spring acting tonmaintain the knife slide in operative engagement with said gauge member, and means controlled-by a single operation'to unlock the gaugelnember and relieve it-of the spring pressure of the knife slidepreparatory to its adjustment.

3. In a slug trimming mechanism, the combination of a knife slide,-an adjustable gauge member, means for locking the latterin its adjusted positions, a spring actingto maintain the knife slide in operative engagement with said gauge member, and meansforunlocking the'gauge member and relieving it of thespringpressure of the knife slidepreparatory to adjustment. I

4. In a slug trimming mechanism, thecombination of a knife sl ide,-a rotary gauge member for locating the-slide in its: adjusted I positions, a spring for holding the slide re for locking the gauge member against rotation, and means whereby said member isrunlocked andrelieved of the springpressure of thc'k-ni fe slide preparatory to adjustment.

5. In a slug trimming mechanism, the combination of a knife slide, a rotary gauge member for locating-- said slide in different adjusted positions, a spring acting to maintain the knife slide in operative engagement withthe gauge member, a locking latch to hold the gauge member -in different rotary positions of adjustment, and two hand levers arranged side by side for simultaneous operation, one connected to the knife slide for moving it away from the gauge member, and the other connected to the lockinglatch to disengage it from the gauge member.

6. In a slug-trimming mechanism, the "combination of a knife slide, a single adjustable gage member provided with 'a. seriesof laterally projecting studs Whose operative faces ing means to prevent the adjustment of the gage member While it is subject to the spring pressure of the knife slide, and means operated in disengaging said locking means to suppress the spring pressure preparatory to the adjustment of the gage member.

In testimony whereof, I have aflixed my signature hereto.

SAMUEL SMITH. 

